14 Top Tips for Taking Online Classes

When you want to earn a college degree, online classes provide a convenient way to do so. Virtual courses mean you don’t have to spend time going to and from campus, and you have much more flexibility in your schedule. While these classes can be an excellent option for those who work or take care of other responsibilities regularly, being in an online degree program presents some challenges. Knowing how to do well in online classes can help you succeed and earn your degree. Keep the following tips for taking online classes in mind if you’re exploring this type of degree program.

1.Get Organized

One of the key strategies to doing well in online learning is organization. This involves organizing all the notes you take, as well as your assignments and projects. Staying organized can make it easier to locate specific notes you want to review before a test or that you need to complete an assignment. The supplies you need for school, such as pens, notebooks, highlighters, and sticky notes, should also be kept in one place that’s easy for you to access during classes and while studying.

2.Don’t Procrastinate

Putting off assignments, projects, studying, and other school-related tasks until the last minute can hurt your academic performance. Procrastinating might lead you to cram the night before a test or rush through an important project that counts for a high percentage of your grade. Make a daily habit of reviewing the tasks you must complete for school and upcoming deadlines, then get started on achieving them. Starting early should give you plenty of time to study for exams or hand in quality work on assignments and projects.

3.Participate in Discussions

Being in online classes isn’t quite the same as attending in-person classes. Although you might not be seated in a classroom with other students and your instructor, it’s still important to actively participate in class. You might have opportunities to post questions or participate in discussions during your online courses or outside them. Whether you answer a question your instructor asks or respond to a classmate who starts a conversation, active participation can help you learn more while also providing you with chances to interact with fellow students.

4.Stay Engaged

Online lectures can be hard to focus on for some people, compared to sitting in a classroom. Finding ways to stay engaged during your classes can help you make the most of your online education. You might set a goal to participate at least once during class to start with, or you might pay close attention and take notes while your instructor goes over the material. You can stay engaged outside of your lessons as well. For example, you might set a goal to check the discussion threads for each class a certain number of times per day and post replies.

5.Take Advantage of Resources

Many schools understand that online education comes with specific challenges compared to on-campus learning. Check with your school for available resources you might need from time to time. Some schools might provide counseling services for online students, while others might make it easy to participate in a virtual study group. You might also find resources that provide you with study tips and advice or resources to help you determine the career path you want to pursue so that you can choose suitable coursework.

6.Manage Your Time Wisely

Time management is a great way to ensure you do well in online classes. This involves keeping close track of every deadline you have during each semester, including assignments, projects, and exam dates. Managing your time means dividing it up to ensure you can complete all tasks and assignments on time and study for tests, exams, and finals without cramming. Time management prevents you from spending too much time on one task and not having enough time to focus on other tasks.

7.Keep Up with Your Assignments

Another essential tip for taking classes online is keeping up with your assignments. Make sure you complete all of them by their due date so you won’t fall behind. Turning in assignments and projects late can bring your grades down while also causing you to spend valuable time catching up. Working on and handing in all assignments on schedule or before they’re due can help reduce your risk of feeling overly stressed. Instead, you can concentrate on current assignments, hand them in, then move on to the next one.

8.Set Aside Dedicated Study Time

Being in online classes offers a more flexible schedule, but it’s vital to use your time wisely. Rather than studying whenever you feel like it or whenever you remember to, schedule study sessions. Devote a certain amount of time each day to reviewing what you’ve learned. Regularly revisiting your notes can help you understand and remember the material. When you have dedicated study time, you won’t have to stay up all night studying for exams since you’ll already be familiar with the material.

9.Create a Study Space

Dedicated study time won’t help much if you’re trying to focus on school in a busy or loud part of your home. Set up a quiet study space where you won’t have other family members interrupting you or a lot of noise to block out. Your study space might be a desk in your room or another closed-off area in your home. Make sure you have your notes, textbooks, and supplies in your study space to conveniently get to them as needed.

10.Eliminate Distractions

Being distracted can make it much harder to focus on online lectures or concentrate on completing assignments and studying. Distractions can range from other people in your home to notifications going off on your phone, outdoor noises, and glare on your screen. Eliminate every source of distraction in your study space so you can pay attention to your studies. Whether by closing the windows and the door to your room, putting your phone on do not disturb, or wearing noise-canceling headphones, keeping your surroundings as distraction-free as possible helps ensure you’ll be able to devote your attention to school.

11.Take Advantage of Office Hours

Office hours aren’t just for in-person courses. Some online instructors also set aside time for office hours to help students. During these sessions, you can ask for clarification on something you don’t fully understand or ask questions for a deeper understanding of the concepts or material you’re learning. Taking advantage of office hours can help you prepare for upcoming tests or finals, or you might gain insight into material that can help you do better on projects and assignments.

12.Stay on Top of Deadlines

When you’re in an online degree program, you can expect to have several deadlines to keep track of each semester. Keeping track of deadlines helps reduce your risk of missing important due dates or being unprepared for upcoming tests and exams. You’ll have individual and group projects to complete, regular assignments to hand in, and quizzes, tests, and finals to pass. Use calendar apps to help you keep track of upcoming deadlines and reminder apps to give you notice when you’re approaching deadlines. You might also want to write deadlines down on a large wall calendar in your study space as a more visible reminder.

13.Take Advantage of Technology

In addition to calendar and reminder apps for deadlines, other apps can be valuable resources when taking online classes. You can use note-taking apps to jot down notes during lectures and keep all these notes organized in one place on your phone or tablet. You can also use apps to help you manage your time, be productive while studying or working on assignments, and eliminate distractions. You might also find online study guides and other study aids that help you prepare for tests and exams.

14.Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health

Working toward an online degree can be a challenging experience, especially if you have other responsibilities. Make sure you eat healthily, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly to maintain good physical health. Stress management methods, such as meditation or mindfulness, can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed during school. No matter how busy you are, set aside time for activities you enjoy and spend time with loved ones to help boost your emotional and mental well-being.

Start Your Journey Today

If you’re interested in earning your degree through an online program, Bryant & Stratton College has many options to consider. We offer online degree programs in business, technology, healthcare, legal services, and education. Our online degree programs involve taking two classes at a time during a session that lasts for seven and a half weeks. With this course load, you can earn some degrees in as little as 20 months.

For more information on our online degree programs, request information from Bryant & Stratton College. We can provide you with more details on the degree programs you’re interested in and help you get started with our school’s admissions process.